Organic/inorganic hybrid materials from polypeptide-based block copolymers

Novel organic/inorganic hybrid material was synthesized from poly(acrylazapropyl-trimethoxysilane)-b-poly(Nε-trifluoroacetyl-l-lysine) (P(AAPTMS)-b-P(TLL)) block copolymer using the sol-gel process. The treatment with ammonia solution permitted the hydrolysis of both trifluoro acetyl and trimethoxysilyl groups of the hydride copolymer followed by the condensation of the silanol groups, leading to cross-linked copolymers. The resulting cross-linked hybrid material was characterized using FT-IR, 29Si NMR, DSC, TGA, and environmental scanning electron microscopy. These techniques evidenced that a siloxane network was obtained. Amphiphilic polypeptide/inorganic hybrid copolymers were achieved and self-organized as particles in water.